The report cited on Thursday Biofire CEO and founder Kai Kloepfer as saying that the $1,499 9 mm handgun, equipped with fingerprint and facial-recognition technology, is reliable and thoroughly tested. The distinctive feature of the handgun is that it sends an electric signal to fire the bullet when an authorized user pulls the trigger, rather than rely on a physical trigger mechanism, the report said, adding that it is the first gun ever designed to fire that way, and is the first "smart gun" on the US market.
The first batch of "smart guns" that cost more than twice as expensive as a typical handgun will be shipped to investors, friends and others in the company's inner circle this month. Biofire's first paid customers, who number in the "thousands," will receive their "smart guns" in the following months. The report also cited the firm as saying that about a third of the customers are first-time gun owners.
The gun is designed to allow up to five authorized people to fire the weapon instantly upon gripping it, the report said, adding that the trigger mechanism is disabled the moment the gun leaves their hand. The safety measure aims to prevent unintentional shootings by children, as well as teenage suicide and theft and criminal use of handguns, NBC News cited Kloepfer as saying.